FL gubernatorial debate in Spanish?

Univision, the Spanish-language television network that hosted historic presidential debates in 2008, has invited Republican gubernatorial candidates Bill McCollum and Rick Scott to face off in Miami.

Both campaigns say they are open to doing the debate but can't commit to the date offered. Univision proposed taping the debate on Aug. 5 and airing it on Aug. 7.Download Scan001

A debate aimed at a Spanish-speaking audience could get interesting, considering that Arizona's tough new crackdown on illegal immigration has become an issue in the governor's race. McCollum initially expressed reservations about the law but now describes himself as a strong supporter of an amended version. Scott has been airing commercials from the get-go praising the law, which gives local police new powers to question suspected illegal immigrants. Critics say it will lead to racial and ethnic profiling.

"These laws also have the potential of violating the rights of innocent American citizens and legal residents, making them subject to possible stops or questioning because of what they look like or how they sound,'' President Obama said this week.